Monthly 70,000 lira salary and internet demands drive producers crazy: Finding a shepherd in Elazığ is as hard as finding gold

In Elazığ, herd owners are facing great difficulty in finding shepherds. Despite having a monthly salary of 70,000 lira, as well as all their food, drink, housing, and clothing needs covered, shepherds are also demanding 30 GB of internet per month. Because the younger generation does not prefer this traditional profession, producers are experiencing serious problems.

With the decline of qualified labor in the livestock sector and the impact of urbanization, the profession of shepherding is becoming less and less preferred. As a result, shepherds have become as valuable as gold. Herd owners are unable to find shepherds to work for them, even though they meet all their demands.

Nurettin Çelenk, who has 500 small livestock, sold half of his animals because he could not find a shepherd and began taking care of the remaining ones himself. Describing the difficulty he faces, Çelenk said, "You can find gold, but you cannot find a shepherd."

Çelenk stated, "We are currently paying the shepherd 70,000 lira a month and we also provide 30 GB of internet per month. Their food, drink, housing, and clothing are on us. When things are like this, those who are in a difficult situation sell their animals."

Noting that while shepherds used to demand phone credit, they now demand internet packages, Çelenk said, "I don't even use 30 GB of internet. But the man is right, we are desperate. It is a difficult profession. You struggle in the mountains, on the hills, in the rain, and in the snow."

In conclusion, the livestock sector in Elazığ is facing a serious crisis because young people do not prefer this profession. Even though herd owners offer high wages to find shepherds, the future of the traditional profession of shepherding remains uncertain.